Councilman Berlon Weeks says he hopes to open a gas station and small fast food restaurant at a busy intersection in Bronson.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                A commercial lot located at the busiest intersection in Bronson could soon be the site of a gas station and small restaurant if Councilman Berlon Weeks can get town approval for his future project.

            The council voted 4-0 Monday, with Weeks abstaining, to relocate a town water line that runs below ground at the center of the property to make room for the future development.

The lot is located at the intersection of State Road 24 and U.S. 27A directly opposite Bronson Ace Hardware and has been the site of a variety of businesses ranging from a gas station to a car lot and bus station over the years.

“At one time there were seven grocery stores in Bronson,” Councilman Robert Partin said.

The town water pipe is directly below where the gas station would be constructed and has to be relocated closer to the road right of way. Public Works Director said the total cost relocating the pipe is about $2,500 to $5,000.

Wise said he has no idea why the town built the water line at that location. He said the pipe was probably buried there in the 1970s or 80s.

Weeks said he knows he will need council approval for the project including all the necessary permits.

“But it probably won’t come in that quick,” he said.

He anticipates the gas station and fast food restaurant would create 14-15 jobs.

Wise said he knows how to relocate the pipe and move it to a location that doesn’t interfere with the owner’s development rights, but his explanation of how he would do it was rather complicated.

Councilman Aaron Edmondson’s motion to approve relocating the pipe was aimed at doing whatever was necessary to relocate the pipe.

“I make a motion we do whatever we got to do, to do what we got to do,” Edmondson said, drawing smiles.

The motion won unanimous approval.

Fire Station Project

Fire Chief Dennis Russell assured council members they will have the final word on the design of the new fire station and which company is hired to design and build it.

The town has received a $900,000 allocation from the Florida Legislature as the first of two installments to build the structure, but there is no absolute guarantee the town will get the remaining $940,000 Russell is seeking.

Weeks wanted assurances from Russell that the fire house design could be flexible enough to be reduced in size if the money requested by the fire department isn’t approved by the Florida Legislature next year.

Russell said he has already thought about that possibility. He said the fire house could be reduced in size from five bays to three. Outside facilities currently in the plans could be removed and built later.

The fire house would be located on U.S. 27A next door to the Levy County Extension Office owned by the Levy County Commission. Weeks wanted to know if Russell has made arrangements for a firehouse driveway or if he has asked the county if they could share their driveways. Russell said the county said their driveways aren’t available for use by the fire department.

But Russell said he is aware he will have to contact the Florida Department of Transportation and request a permit to build a driveway wide enough to accommodate the fire engines.

Weeks also wondered if Russell had his heart set on building next to the extension office or if he might consider tearing down the current fire house and build a new fire house there. Russell said he wants to build on the 6 ½ acres next to the extension office.

            Russell has solicited requests for qualifications from construction companies interested in designing and building the fire house. The companies have submitted samples of fire houses they have constructed. Russell said he and the committee he is working with, which is headed by Councilman Jason Hunt, will make a recommendation to the council for the company they like best.

He said the fire department isn’t bidding out the project. The process is to select a bidder and negotiate for a construction price before presenting to the council. Town Attorney Steven Warm didn’t object to the process.

Does the Mayor Vote?

Longtime resident Shirley Taylor commended the council on selecting Beatrice Roberts as the mayor at their previous meeting, but she wondered if the mayor votes on every issue.

She had been told that the mayor only votes to break a tie on the council. Roberts and Councilman Aaron Edmondson assured her that the mayor is one of five voting members on every issue that comes before the board.

Taylor was relieved to hear the mayor could vote on every issue.  She encouraged the council to educate people on how the council operates. She said she had received her information off the street from people talking.

“That’s why we need to be educated. We start talking on the street,” she said.

Limiting Overtime

Roberts pointed out that six town employees earned a total of $18,000 in overtime between Jan. 1 and Oct. 18, 2018. She said she understood there were special circumstances in 2018, including an election, but she said the overtime was excessive.

Roberts said from this point forward employees must receive her pre-approval for overtime.

Town Hall Hours

Edmondson said a resident contacted him asking about Town Hall hours. The resident had come to pay a bill but town Hall was closed. He wanted to know the operating hours of Town Hall.

Clerk Shirley Miller said Town Hall hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but a reporter at the meeting pointed out that Town Hall had closed at 4 p.m. one day because the internet wasn’t operating.

Partin confirmed the early closing due to the internet being down. Roberts said Town Hall shouldn’t close when the internet is down. She said people can pay their water bills in cash.

Roberts felt it was inappropriate to close Town Hall early when the internet was done.

Credit Card Charges

Starting Nov. 1, Bronson residents can pay their utility bills online using a credit card, but they will be assessed an additional 3.5% for using the card. The same charge will be added to the bill of people who pay their utility bill with a card at Town Hall. Banks charge the town for the use of a credit card. The town is passing along those costs to town residents using a credit card.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting October 21, 2019; Posted October 21, 2019